State superintendent commends Rapp schools for a ‘phenomenal job’
Rappahannock County Public Schools welcomed Dr. James Lane, state superintendent for the Virginia Department of Education, for a special visit to the elementary school on Friday, Feb. 26.
Dr. Lane was greeted by RCPS Superintendent Shannon Grimsley and school board members Larry Grove and Chris Ubben, along with Elementary School Principal Lisa Gates, Assistant Principal Jennifer Wissinger, Executive Director of Administrative Services Robin Bolt, and seventh grade Student Council Association President, Emily Matthews. Each was excited to showcase the many features of the school as well as the COVID-19 mitigation strategies that have been in place to ensure a safe reopening of schools.
Along the tour, Dr. Lane had the opportunity to see the STEAM lab, the sensory hallway, the courtyard and the Action Based Learning (ABL) lab. “This is amazing,” Dr. Lane said of the ABL lab. “I wish my children had this lab in their schools.”
Dr. Lane visited Tiffany Montague’s pre-kindergarten classroom, the new Primary Promises classroom, Shelley Shankle’s third grade classroom, Elaine McCabe’s seventh grade classrooms and the cafeteria to observe the desk shields and seating arrangements.
School officials also showed the state superintendent the new AERUS Pure and Clean air purifiers in each of the classrooms and the air-scrubbing ventilation units. Following the tour, Dr. Bolt presented Dr. Lane with a goody bag of donated items representing the schools and community, such as a wooden pen made by a Rappahannock County High School student and a Rappahannock County hat.
Dr. Lane was very pleased with the school’s reopening process and its safety procedures. Before departing, he commended RCPS for doing a “phenomenal job” reopening during the pandemic.
Speaking very proudly of both elementary and high schools throughout the tour, Dr. Grimsley credited the collaboration of staff, students, families and the community for the schools’ success.
“It was a great pleasure to have Dr. Lane visit our elementary school and see the wonderful work of our faculty and staff in action,” Dr. Grimsley said.
FFA Week
Last week was national Future Farmers of America (FFA) Week. The officers at RCHS celebrated on Friday by treating staff with donuts, FFA cups, FFA napkins and FFA pens. Earlier in the week, the Virginia FFA State Officer team visited the school and led an interactive workshop for Agriculture Education students in seventh through 12th grades.
Rappahannock History
U.S. History students at RCHS were treated to a special guest speaker, Art Candenquist, on Friday, Feb. 26 and Monday, March 1. Mr. Candenquist shared his extensive knowledge of the American Civil War in Rappahannock with students in both A and B cohort groups.